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Hernando
DeSoto County Courthouse in Hernando
DeSoto County Courthouse in Hernando
Flag of Hernando
Official seal of Hernando
Motto: 
"Mississippi's Front Porch"
Location of Hernando, Mississippi
Location of Hernando, Mississippi
Hernando is located in the United States
Hernando
Hernando
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 34°49′51″N 89°59′37″W / 34.83083°N 89.99361°W / 34.83083; -89.99361
CountryUnited States
StateMississippi
CountyDeSoto
Established1839
Government
 • MayorChip Johnson
Area
 • Total25.39 sq mi (65.76 km2)
 • Land25.30 sq mi (65.53 km2)
 • Water0.09 sq mi (0.23 km2)
Elevation
381 ft (116 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total17,138
 • Density677.36/sq mi (261.54/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
38632
Area code662
FIPS code28-31780
GNIS feature ID0690292
Websitewww.cityofhernando.org

Hernando is the county seat of DeSoto County, on the northwestern border of Mississippi, United States.[2] The population was 17,138 according to the 2020 census records.[3] DeSoto County is the second-most-populous county in the Memphis metropolitan area, which includes counties in Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi.[2]

U.S. Route 51 and the I-55 freeway traverse the city from north to south, and the I-69 freeway crosses the city from east to west. The county courthouse is located within Hernando's historic downtown square. It is located at the intersection of Commerce Street and present-day U.S. 51.

History[edit]

At the time of encounters by French and Spanish colonists, the Chickasaw people had long inhabited this area. France had developed colonial settlements along the Gulf Coast, to the north on the middle Mississippi River in what was called the Illinois Country, and in New France (present-day Quebec in Canada). An 18th-century French colonial log house (see first photo in gallery below) in Hernando is a reminder of typical dwellings built in their settlements in the Illinois country, such as in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri. The French and French Canadians had a wide trading network with various American Indian tribes along this river, for instance in Natchez.

Following the Indian Removal Act in 1830 and under pressure from the United States, the Chickasaw finally signed a treaty to cede most of their lands in this area to the US. Most of the tribe were removed to west of the Mississippi River in Indian Territory.

This town was first called Jefferson by its new European American settlers. It was renamed as Hernando in 1832, after the Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto. He was the first European to explore the Mississippi River.[4]

During the early 20th century, numerous blues musicians developed in Hernando. African Americans had developed a strong musical tradition in areas along the Mississippi River, where many had grown up in families working as sharecroppers on cotton plantations. During the Great Migration of the first half of the 20th century, many blues musicians migrated north, taking their music to Chicago and helping create the culture of that city.

Geography[edit]

Hernando is in the center of DeSoto County, bordered to the north by the city of Southaven. Via Interstate 55 or US 51, Memphis, Tennessee is 25 miles (40 km) north. It is 15 miles (24 km) via the same road to the south to Senatobia. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city of Hernando has a total area of 25.8 square miles (66.9 km2), of which 25.7 square miles (66.6 km2) is land, and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km2), or 0.39%, is water.[3]

Climate[edit]

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Hernando has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[5]

Climate data for Hernando, Mississippi, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 80
(27)
83
(28)
91
(33)
97
(36)
98
(37)
104
(40)
110
(43)
112
(44)
106
(41)
99
(37)
88
(31)
81
(27)
112
(44)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 70.0
(21.1)
73.9
(23.3)
80.0
(26.7)
86.3
(30.2)
90.8
(32.7)
95.5
(35.3)
97.3
(36.3)
98.2
(36.8)
95.6
(35.3)
88.7
(31.5)
79.2
(26.2)
70.9
(21.6)
99.3
(37.4)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 49.7
(9.8)
53.9
(12.2)
62.9
(17.2)
72.4
(22.4)
80.3
(26.8)
87.5
(30.8)
90.1
(32.3)
90.3
(32.4)
85.1
(29.5)
74.0
(23.3)
61.6
(16.4)
52.0
(11.1)
71.6
(22.0)
Daily mean °F (°C) 40.0
(4.4)
43.7
(6.5)
52.0
(11.1)
61.2
(16.2)
69.9
(21.1)
77.4
(25.2)
80.4
(26.9)
79.8
(26.6)
73.7
(23.2)
62.2
(16.8)
50.7
(10.4)
42.9
(6.1)
61.2
(16.2)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 30.2
(−1.0)
33.5
(0.8)
41.1
(5.1)
50.1
(10.1)
59.6
(15.3)
67.2
(19.6)
70.7
(21.5)
69.3
(20.7)
62.4
(16.9)
50.4
(10.2)
39.8
(4.3)
33.8
(1.0)
50.7
(10.4)
Mean minimum °F (°C) 13.4
(−10.3)
18.5
(−7.5)
23.6
(−4.7)
34.3
(1.3)
46.1
(7.8)
56.8
(13.8)
62.6
(17.0)
61.1
(16.2)
48.3
(9.1)
34.5
(1.4)
24.5
(−4.2)
19.4
(−7.0)
11.4
(−11.4)
Record low °F (°C) −12
(−24)
−5
(−21)
10
(−12)
23
(−5)
37
(3)
47
(8)
54
(12)
49
(9)
38
(3)
24
(−4)
7
(−14)
−5
(−21)
−12
(−24)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 4.22
(107)
5.04
(128)
5.52
(140)
6.25
(159)
5.49
(139)
4.80
(122)
4.14
(105)
3.40
(86)
3.48
(88)
4.11
(104)
4.25
(108)
5.83
(148)
56.53
(1,436)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 0.9
(2.3)
0.7
(1.8)
0.1
(0.25)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.1
(0.25)
0.1
(0.25)
1.9
(4.8)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 10.1 9.7 11.1 9.4 10.5 9.6 9.1 7.2 6.4 7.3 8.8 10.3 109.5
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 0.5 0.4 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 1.2
Source 1: NOAA[6]
Source 2: National Weather Service[7]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1870730
1880583−20.1%
18906023.3%
1900563−6.5%
19106006.6%
192079632.7%
193093817.8%
19401,07214.3%
19501,20612.5%
19601,89857.4%
19702,49931.7%
19802,96918.8%
19903,1255.3%
20006,812118.0%
201014,090106.8%
202017,13821.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]

2020 census[edit]

Hernando Racial Composition[9]
Race Num. Perc.
White 13,193 76.98%
Black or African American 2,029 11.84%
Native American 22 0.13%
Asian 223 1.3%
Pacific Islander 9 0.05%
Other/Mixed 641 3.74%
Hispanic or Latino 1,021 5.96%

As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 17,138 people, 5,770 households, and 4,237 families residing in the city.

2000 census[edit]

As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 6,812 people, 2,482 households, and 1,809 families residing in the city. The population density was 603.0 inhabitants per square mile (232.8/km2). There were 2,720 housing units at an average density of 240.8 per square mile (93.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 76.35% White, 21.48% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.66% Asian, 0.78% from other races, and 0.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.04% of the population.

There were 2,482 households, out of which 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.2% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.1% were non-families. 22.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.9% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $43,217, and the median income for a family was $51,155. Males had a median income of $39,706 versus $25,685 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,731. About 6.5% of families and 9.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.2% of those under age 18 and 16.3% of those age 65 or over.

Education[edit]

Hernando is home to 5 public schools and is served by the DeSoto County School District.

Gallery[edit]

Media[edit]

  • DeSoto Times-Tribune

Notable people[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ a b "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Hernando city, Mississippi". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved October 30, 2015.
  4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 155.
  5. ^ "Hernando, Mississippi Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)". Weatherbase. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
  6. ^ "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Hernando, MS". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  7. ^ "NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Memphis". National Weather Service. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  8. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  9. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  10. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  11. ^ "A cut above the rest". Desoto Times-Tribune. November 21, 2016.

External links[edit]